【2019.12 Update】 In 2020, the points needed to redeem Necker Island increased from 1,200,000 to 1,500,000. Yes, that’s a full increase of 300,000 Virgin Atlantic miles. Here’s the breakdown:
The cash room rates, on the other hand, have actually dropped. In 2019 it was 5,000/7,500 per night, while in 2020 it is only 3,500/5,200 per night.
The 2020 bookable dates are now available:
- January: 3rd - 9th January 2020
- August: 15th - 22nd August; 22nd - 29th August 2020
- September: 19th - 26th September; 26th September - 3rd October 2020
- October: 17th - 24th October; 24th - 31st October 2020
For that price, the package includes:
- Your accommodation
- All meals and drinks (including all alcoholic beverages) – served in a variety of locations
- Return launch transfer from Virgin Gorda or Beef Island airports
- A dedicated team of staff
- Two freshwater infinity pools and a huge hot tub on the beach
- Two floodlit tennis courts
- Water sports equipment so you can go windsurfing, kite-surfing, water-skiing, sailing, snorkeling and even SCUBA diving plus much more
- Disco DJ included on one night
- Wireless internet throughout the island
- BVI accommodation tax
Doing the math, even now between LD and me, UR + MR + 1/3 Marriott is still above 1,500,000, so we can still go once, haha. To clarify, this “dream” simply means this is the biggest single points redemption we can do, and it has nothing to do with Sir Richard Branson, the island owner.
If we were starting from scratch with LD today, the fastest way is:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve *2=100,000
- Chase Sapphire Preferred *2=120,000
- Chase Ink Unlimited*2=100,000
- Chase Ink Preferred *2 =160,000
- Chase Freedom *2=40,000
- Chase Freedom Unlimited *2=40,000
Total: 560,000 UR, transferable to 560,000 Virgin Atlantic
- AMEX Business Platinum*2=150,000
- AMEX Business Gold*2=120,000
- AMEX Platinum *2 = 120,000
- AMEX Platinum Schwab *2 =120,000
- AMEX Gold *2=100,000
- AMEX Green*2=70,000
- AMEX Everyday Preferred *2=60,000
- AMEX Everyday*2=40,000
Total: 760,000 MR, transferable to 760,000 Virgin Atlantic
- Citi Prestige *2=100,000
- Citi Premier*2=100,000
- Citi Thank You Preferred*2=40,000
Total: 240,000 TYP, transferable to 240,000 Virgin Atlantic
- BofA Virgin Atlantic*2=170,000
Total: 1,730,000 Virgin Atlantic, goal completed. Considering the 5/24 and Sapphire card stacking restrictions, plus TYP card stacking restrictions, I estimate it could take about 4 years. Of course, if we catch a 30% transfer bonus from MR and TYP to Virgin Atlantic, it could be done in 2-3 years. Hopefully it won’t go up again by then. Don’t forget, round-trip flights are not included—you still need some miles left for airfare.
Here are two bonus redemption trip reports:
Contents [Hide]
About Me
For lots of different reasons, everyone has started playing the credit-card game. Between school, work, and a little free time, we open cards, complete card-opening tasks, and read through forums and blogs—before we know it, we’ve found a first windfall outside of our paycheck. At the same time, our spending becomes more structured: which card to use for groceries, which for gas, which for dining, which for online shopping—all of it becomes second nature.
People have different goals: some just want to save money, some save for a return ticket home, some want business class for family, and some look forward to staying in luxury hotels. Through endless rounds of applications, transfers, churns, earning, burning, and enjoying rewards, what exactly are we all chasing?
As an average card enthusiast, I can’t claim to be as all-knowing as old You from Mitbbs, who can call out deals from one angle and lock in the best one in a snap; I’m not like 3798’s principal, who can push this game to the absolute limit and create a whole new space with it; I’m not like Physixfan, who publishes a post that causes comments to pour in like waves; I’m not one of the showboats bragging about their skills, and I’m not one of the newbies who keeps asking for handouts. I enjoy lurking and watching everyone argue over a card, flex after making money, agonize over point redemptions, and hustle to get approved for a card. I enjoy posting in my blog and sharing money-saving and money-making tips—sometimes too technical, sometimes too wordy.
I tend to plan everything in my head and consider every possibility, pushing deals to the limit. But when it comes to execution, I’m not the type who takes everything to the extreme. If something unexpected comes up, I’ll step back right away—or just stop.
I know that maybe in a few years, I’ll, like most people, put this card hobby aside. I won’t be chasing Amex Offers all over the place, won’t be making four or five calls to get a card approved, won’t get my heart racing over a sign-up bonus, and won’t feel uneasy when points devalue after a minimum spend.
I’m approaching my thirties, and I feel a little confused and a little lost.
About Dreams
Whatever people do, they usually have a dream. As I became more familiar with credit cards and travel points, my dreams gradually rose. From my original goal of earning one economy ticket home, they moved up to business class and luxury suites at downtown hotels. Point redemptions now feel smoother, and suddenly, when I have points that are hard to spend all at once, it feels like the only things I’m missing are time and opportunity. ANA first-class U.S.-China round-trips, Marriott bonus redemptions, and Southwest companion-style tickets—things I once never thought I could do now feel much more reachable.
When I watch the numbers climbing in Award Wallet, I often ask myself: what do these miles and points actually mean to me? Is it the comfort of business-class first seats, the luxury of upscale hotels, or the pain of feeding through endless Visa gift cards and the anxiety after a minimum spend? I only found an answer after bringing my family over this summer.
The airport lounges and the full food spread, the lie-flat seats on the plane and every carefully prepared course, made my family very happy. During city-center hotel stays, with easy transportation and free breakfast, they were surprised and delighted. Seeing their smiles, I finally understood my dream: making them happy and earning their approval of this “odd” hobby. Suddenly, the hard work and the judgment that come with point-chasing and deal-hunting felt not only worth it but completely justified.
About Necker Island
Necker Island is a small island in the British Virgin Islands and a private resort established by Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group UK. It has beautiful scenery and full facilities, and is a hotspot for celebrities, destination weddings, and, yes, a haven for tax planning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw5rMTX7IMI
The first time I heard of this island, it wasn’t because of the views—it was because it could be redeemed for 1.2 million points.
What does 1.2 million points mean?
- 1.2 million Hilton points can cover about a year at Cat 1 hotels, or about a little over two weeks at a top-tier hotel
- 1.2 million ANA miles can be redeemed for 12 round-trip business-class U.S.-China flights
- At a 2x points-earning card, you need about $600,000 in spending to reach 1.2 million points
Necker Island’s 1.2 million-mile obsession might just be a symbol—a symbol of a challenge, a symbol of the ultimate goal for card enthusiasts. In fact, the biggest appeal of miles and points is the temptation. You typically won’t pay cash to book business-class seats, stay in top-tier hotels, and live a different life. But when you hold miles that were earned at nearly no net out-of-pocket cost, some mysterious force drives you to experience those things anyway. Maybe that’s why some people nearly obsess over earning miles and points.
Without 1.2 million points, most ordinary people would never spend $30,000 to snorkel in Necker Island’s clear waters, watch a stunning sunset, party with billionaires, dine with island owner Richard Branson, and enjoy a week of five-star-like island life.
Necker Island made me realize that card play is more than just a hobby.
About Me, About My Dreams, About Necker Island
1.2 million points feel far and near at the same time. Virgin Atlantic points can be transferred from Ultimate Rewards (UR), Membership Rewards (MR), ThankYou Points (TYP), and Starpoints (SPG), and BofA’s co-branded card also has a 90,000-point sign-up bonus. When I do the math, 350,000 UR, 600,000 MR, 250,000 SPG, and 200,000 TYP between me and LD should already be enough for a roughly $30,000 two-person, seven-night Necker Island trip.
Anybody want to go together?
Here is a post by FrequentMiler, who used 1.2 million points to visit Necker Island:
